This give-away is part of a four-part series highlighting some of my favorite small, ethical businesses this holiday season. My hope is that you are introduced to a new business you can feel good about supporting and possibly making a holiday purchase if it fits your needs. In a world of big business it takes a mindful approach to support the quality craftsmen and craftswoman who are making conscious decisions about their businesses and how they interact with within their local and global community and natural environment. Today I am honored to introduce you to one of my favorites: Soft Star Shoes.
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Soft Star Shoes was suggested to me by a fellow mom in my local homeschooling group. She gushed about the quality, but what caught my attention was how impressed she was with their customer service. She mentioned how helpful they were on the phone helping her make sure her measurements were right. She felt like they really took care of her needs.
I bought the Koala a pair of sandals this past summer and when I received them I realized I had ordered him a wide and they were much too big for his feet. I called and they had no problem doing a quick exchange for me. Each time I have contacted them on the phone or by email I find their “elves” are super friendly and helpful.
(Koala making a big jump in his Soft Star sandals this past summer.)
I am thinking about buying them moccasins as indoor slipper/shoes for the winter. Unlike other leather shoes their slip-on moccasins are sheep-skin lined. I prefer sheepskin as shoe insulation any day of the week. I’m thinking I might even toss them in our travel bag for when we arrive at playdates with snowy boots so they can have a clean, warm shoe to slip on.
I also want to note if I could completely splurge this year I would have gotten Koala these winter boots and Solshine these ones. I’ve seen these in person and they are absolutely the nicest child’s winter boots I have ever come across. Traditional winter boots are so clunky and unflexible. These are quite the opposite. Maybe next year.
Enough gushing–I will share the response I received from Soft Star when I asked about their community ideals, ideas on quality crafts(wo)manship and how their philosophies surrounding their work environment and employees.
Hi Hillary-
Our mission at Soft Star is threefold:
- Handcrafting beautiful and healthy footwear for active families
- Ensuring our workshop is a fun, inviting place to work
- Tread lightly: Respecting our earth by making as minimal of an impact as
possible. This means conserving energy, local and ethical sourcing of our
materials, and thinking about how our actions impact the earth.Because we handcraft each pair of shoes – we are ultra-conscious about
wanting to create a beautiful, quality product. All orders are made by one
elf and double checked by two other co-workers to ensure the correct colors and catch any workmanship issues.We have great customers – they tend to be very healthy, active and creative people. Their feedback is a big part of what makes our jobs so
enjoyable – to have the personal interaction is really important and often goes missing in these days of mass consumerism. Check out our customer fan page or our facebook page for examples of the feedback we get… and you’ll see why we love our work so much!Soft Star Shoes
See why I love these folks–good vibes all around!
The Prize
One lucky reader will win a coupon for $20 off their Soft Star Order. All you have to do is go to their website and tell me which pair you would buy if you won the coupon in the comments section. The coupon is good on a pair of shoes they make (not on gifts/socks/accessories they carry in the store). I’ll be closing comments Wednesday at noon and announcing the winner.
Good luck!
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Infinite Learners is not receiving anything in exchange for hosting these give-aways. All endorsements are from the bottom of my heart. I am a paying customer just like you!
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{ 18 comments }
We love handmade footwear, especially minimalist styles, little padding or insoles etc.. We like our feet to touch the earth as much as possible. To be honest my husband does all our shoe and clothing shopping and I’m not sure what we’d need from their site but we were sure love and appreciate it – both from a functional and ethical perspective. Cool! I had never heard of these folks. I’m passing this info on to my husband.
Hey Hillary!
I’d like to say that I picked out these shoes…but as I was clicking though the company’s selections (with Liv on my lap) it was my little shoe diva herself who pointed at the Laguna Sandals and said “Oh, flower….pretty!”. So I guess those are the shoes that we would pick out!
It is through a series of coincidences that I found your blog this week. It speaks to my heart and life, and I’m pleased to be on board! I also just admired a pair of Soft Star shoes in the local play space but due to two melting down toddlers couldn’t stop to ask who made them; voila, here you are discussing them.
I’ve bought boots for this winter already as we are into the winter freeze, but, having perused the Soft Star site, am clearly in the market for a pair of green and a pair of pink Buster shoes for my kids.
Thanks for writing as you do. Love the blog.
hey mama– love, love, love those boots! Hope you are feeling well these days! I was just gaga-ing over a brand new babe at our advent garden last night and thought of you! take good care…
we *love* our soft star shoes!!!
back in the fall, my mom bought both of our kids a custom pair to use as “indoor shoes” at school. they each designed their own (you can print out a shoe and color it in the way you want it!).
so much fun!!!!
if i won this gift certificate…i would put them towards a pair of moccasins for myself!!!!!
exhale. return to center.´s last blog ..december events + announcements
Gotta love those shoes. I’m partial to the Suede Roos in fuschia and purple – but you know I’d have to double check it with A. Can’t you just see her in one of those?
J
Wow, these are beautiful! And I need new boots, so now I’m dreaming…
If I won the prize I think I’d get Peep the suede grippy Roo in blue and brown.
wait… I just checked out the custom colors, after reading what Erin wrote…. Wow! I want a pair of Roos in purple and fuchsia! For when it’s too warm for the boots, of course.
Thanks for letting me know about this place!
i would get a pair of roos for myself…burgandy…maybe with fringe. something i would never really do otherwise, ya know?
we love, love, love soft stars in our house! they are simply the best shoe and company!
healing hillary´s last blog ..the tree of love and light
You really are quite the social media guru :)
This is oddly appropriate b/c I’ve been looking for a winter shoe for Huck and haven’t found anything I feel really good about. Nice to have the recommendation. I love the little woolie booties – it is hard to find things that are for boys and still really cute . . . without trucks, guns, or skulls on them . . . having struggled with all of the girl stereotypes out there (I know Millie is hyper-girly right now, but not from being given a lot of options :) I am now coming up on all of the equally challenging boy stereotypes — I am coming to realize they are, in some ways, even more rigid than girl ones. Anyway, glad to see a company not reinforcing the idea that you must love wheeled vehicles! Plus, safe to chew on, another plus in Huck’s book :)
Ohhh!!!! I love, love, LOVE their shoes!
I’d buy… let me think… ohhhhh! the Suede Roo
Black / Rust are tempting but choosing my own colors too… But it would be that style of shoes and it would be for ME!
Oh wow! My husband is German and we lived in Germany for many years and were spoiled with all the good quality kid’s shoes. The Soft Star shoes remind me of the type I used to be buy for my older boys. My daughter is just learning to walk and right now she wears Padraig slippers for inside but I hadn’t found anything that I really loved for outside wear. I think I’ll have a look at the Soft Star shoes. I like the look of the classic shoes and I’d probably pick red- because every little girl needs a pair of red shoes!
Oh, Mica really needs new shoes! He would love the star and moon shoe in brown: http://www.softstarshoes.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1173
Thank you!
Stacy
if i had a $20 GC, i would definitely get the boots. we have a pair of their sandles for my 3 year old and he loves them so much he wont wear anything else.
North Star Red would be our pick!
Julie Wright´s last blog ..Wild about Salmon and Beet Recipe by Roger!
I came across Soft Star Shoes’ website (found a mention of their shoes on a Mothering forum), then their FB page & link to your blog tonight because I need some narrow shoes for my 15 month old daughter! I am thrilled to find narrow shoes at all, but that they are made in the US by an ethically run company with great customer service is amazing! My husband is an Oregonian, too, so I love that they are made with Oregon love! I’d pick the lined classic in pink with the star inlay.
I’d love a pair of Phoenix for myself! I have been hoping to come across a coupon!
You are correct, their customer service is out of this world! They were willing (and able) to custom fit slippers for our handicapped son. It is a company I feel great about support.
Thanks for your consideration!
I am pretty sure I would get the phoenix boots for my 18 month old. He has been walking since 8 months, but he refuses to wear heavy Sorel snow boots. I know he will want to play outside all winter, and I need to keep his feet warm somehow!!
I learned how to make the little slipper-style shoes this year, but alas have no way to get the beautiful materials Soft Star has.
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